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| Hiking | 5.62 Miles |
1,662 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.62 Miles | 2 Hrs 34 Mns | | 2.37 mph |
| 1,662 ft AEG | 12 Mns Break | 5 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | Background, Beacon Mountain is located adjacent to the city of Beacon, in the town of Fishkill,NY ,it has 2 summits rising above the Hudson River. The northern peak at 1,531 feet contains remains of the Mount Beacon incline railway and ruins of a casino and hotel, also the site of a monument commemorating the location of signal fires used by the militia during the Revolutionary War and a southern peak at 1610 feet with a fire tower offering views of much of the mid Hudson area. The Mount Beacon incline railway when built in 1902 was the steepest in existence at 74% grade, an estimated 3.5 million passengers rode it mostly tourists from New York City, before it closed in the 70's , then burned down 1983. Some ruins of the Beaconcrest hotel that burned down in 1927 remain. In regards to the signal fires or beacon location the local DAR arranged construction of a commemorative monument in 1901 to mark the Revolutionary War site.
The steep but short hike up the mountain and to the fire tower begins at a parking lot across from Bob's corner market at the intersection of Rt.9D and Howland Ave. This was a nice day temp in upper 60's and partly cloudy so it was a big crowd walking up beside the old incline railway.There is a portable toilet and information kiosk in the parking lot.A short time along the gravel path after leaving the parking lot you come across the ruins of the base of the incline railway. After checking this out a little further along is a staircase of a couple hundred steps to reach the steep rocky trail with switchbacks that continues for about a mile to reach the upper ruins of the incline railway and previous site of the hotel. From here you can take in some views of the town of Beacon below ,the Hudson river and the Beacon Newburgh bridge. To continue to the fire tower walk across the ruin site of the hotel casino and start hiking down the dirt road, start looking for red blazed markers to take you to the fire tower on the southern peak. The number of hikers thins out after leaving the hotel ruins but is still popular.An additional elevation gain of 500 feet and about 1.1 miles brings you to the fire tower. Well worth the climb up though there are good views from the base. On this day I was able to see the outline of the Manhatten skyline about 50 miles in the distance. To the north the Catskills,and the Beacon reservoir. Decided to hike to the signal fire monument, this turned out to be a challenge due to the lack of signage. Fortunately there was a friendly driver of a jeep tour going that way and directed me on where to find it.It was located behind an abandoned broadcast station and tower ,I had previously walked by it but there is so little visitation that there was no obvious path. By the way there are three groups of radio towers on the north peak the correct one which is the highest elevation site ,will post a picture of the abandoned building to walk behind. All in all an enjoyable morning with great views and a chance to see a historical area. |
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